Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-01
MRS. DRUSE HANGED
A NURDERESS JRREED BEHIND THn VII
OPPUTURITY
In the Most approved Styls-Ths Woma1 Behave.
Bravely Excepting Hystsncal Symptoms ca
the GallOws-She Makes Con-
fsSSiOu-Hsr Awful Crime.

Waterman, the death watch, lnduced heT
to lie down and she had about an hours
quiet sleep. She awakened with a start
and upon dressing began to write letters as
calmly as she had at any time during hel
incarceration. They were as follows:
HERKIMER, n. y, February 2S, 1887.
To Sheriff Cook:
KIND SIR You have given me even
more privileges than could have expected
under the circumstances. | desire TO eX
press my sincere thanks and gratitude foI
your kindness and your family's for this
No doubt you will pass many pleasant
hour and besides have n clear conscience
that you have been kind to me, when
am gone. Good bye.
MRS. ROXALANA DRUSE.
Mrs. DruSe gave the following
ORDER To SHERIFF COOK.
HERKIMER, n. V, February -.
KIND SIR-Ifit is to be my sad fate to
die so soon, therefore venture 10 make
this request to you that as soon rs life has
gone from my body that you will place il
in charge OF him who has been my friend
TO the last, Rev. G. w. Powell, and that
he alone, rs a minister of the Gospel, be
present at my death and OfficiIte at my
death aud Otticiate at my funeral, if | am
permitted to have Christian burial.
Please grant NE this request in your own
handwriting.
Signed. Mrs. Il. DRCSE.
After writing Mrs. Druse laid down
again and tell into a dOZe. She was attacked
with hysteria in violent form, and it Ie-
quired considerable effort upon the part OF
the watchers TO arose and calm her. Dur
ing the night she ate one OF the hclrtiest
meals that she had ptrtakrn of since she
was prisoner. She had about two hours
rest after 4 Il. m., hut did not sleep soundly
at any time One OF the first
VISITORS
this morning was Supt. Irving Terry, Oi
the OnOndaga Penitcntiary, who brought
farewell from her daughter Mary, who is
4 life prisoner, and bouquet OF flowers.
This visit had a most exciting effect ulo |
Mrs. Druse. Her death watchers, Mrs
Waterman, who has maintained herself
admirably throughout was affected to
tears, aud for some minutes all were al
tected in the same manner.
Rev. DIR. Powell visited Mrs. DruSe
about 9 Il. H. and did all in his power to
prepare her for the awful moment. She
ate no breakfast, but pnrtOok oI stimula-
ting medicine prepared by the Jail physi-
clan.
DIR, Gray. Her counsel, II. Dwight Luce,
made his parting visit with her ahut 10
o'clock this morning and this again upset
her temporarily, but she soon rallied and
appeared us finn and composed rs any one.
After the terrible blizzard Of Sunday the
morning opened bright with the mercury
10 degrees above zero.
GOING TO THE HANGING.
Every road leading into the town was
dotted with Sleighs, crowded with fur
coated men, and not 4 few women, Capt
John Budlpng and the Thirty-lirst Sepe-
rate Company National Guards with sixty
four muskets came down from Mohawk ut
9 a. M, and were mustered in the Court
House, and details were posted about the
Jail 10 reinforce the deputies who
We're on duty since : ~ ~
About the exterior OF the
Jail, the crowd i'll the village increased on
the arrival of every train, aud in spite OF
the extreme cold, men, women ami chill
dren stood about the streets surrounding
the Jail, satisfied TO look at the officials rs
they passed in and out of the building To
Sheriff Cook office in The Court House on
the opposite side CT the street No one was
permitted to pass the line without display
ing his badge OF authority as deputies.
The execution was with .SSed by twenty
five persons, including the Officials.
THE DEATH WARRANT.
At ll:;!n o'clock the Sheriff. 4 jury was
ordered into the Jail yard while Sheriff
Cook, Under-Shrriti' Rice and the deputies
and physicians proceeded to Mrs. DTuse's
cell. When they reached there Mrs
DruSe sit Weeping and noldlng Mary 5
bouquet in her hands and wearing some of
her flowers about her breast Mrs
Waterman, her death watch, stood
by keT side sobbing. Rev. Dr,
Powell sat in front Of her,
while her counsel, H. -. Wright aud
Chaplain nqrstOn and the deputies and
physicians stood about the door Of the cell.
S1critr Cook hogan reading the death
warrant and rrspite of Gov. Hid at ll:37
d. N. Mrs. pruSc's pulse was - at Hap,
Just before the march TO the glllows was
commenced it raised to 80 To those who
offered 10 assist Mrs. Dfuse in arising d.
Powell said:
"She will bear herself we'll and does not
need any assistance.
Sheriff Cook and Under Sheriff Rice led
the procession. followed by Rev. Dr. Powell
and Mrs. nruse, and the physicians in
order
HER DRESS
Mrs. DruSe was dressed in black cash
mere with lace edging On the neck and
sleeves She wore u small shawl over her
shoulders that was loaned to her by MIS-.
Cook The day was bright but dry,
sharp wind prevailed that caused the dep
Qties and other witnesses to suffer severely
in the zero temperature. The crowd about
the Court House and Jail Was very quiet
and orderly throughout. At 1l:I2 Mrs.
DruSe and Dr. Powell knelt on the floor OF
the scaffold under the rope. Mrs. nruse
held her daughters bouquet in her hands
and closed her eyes while DIR. Powell offer
ed prayer.
she was then asked IT she had anything
to say, when she referred TO DIR. Powell,
who thanked all those who had been kind
TO her, and implOred all OF her enemies to
forgive her, rs she forgave them all. DR..
Powell pressed Mrs. DruSe's hand
and left the Jail yard carry
ing Mary's' bouquet with him.
Deputy Wm. Mckinley pinioned Mrs.
Druse's arms, knees and feet. She main
tanned her cOmposure and was firm until
Deputy Rallon put the black cap on her
head, and adjusted the rope. deputy
Manin, who stood at her right then bid
her good bye and she turned and looking
into his eyes smiled aud pressed his hand.
HYSTERICAL.
Deputy Ballon adjusted the moose under
and back of Mrs. Druse's left ear and
pulled the cap over her face, Mrs. Druse
cried and finally shrieked 50 loud
that her voice was heard in the Jail streets